Extended Service Plans - anyone have any advise?

[Clarkitus]

I was thinking of purchasing an ESP because I didn't when I got the car. It's funny how things work because I recieved an offer from ESP from Ford Motor Company (http://www.espfromford.com) earlier this week. Anyway, I thought that I should do some research before I went out and got one.

* What flavors do ESPs come in? What should they cover?

* Has anyone had a good/bad experience with any particular company?

* How much do they normally run for 5y/$60K, 5y/$70K?

* Should I check with my dealer to see if they participate in any particular plan?

As always, thanks in advance!

[Logan]

Think long and hard as to whether you're actually going to keep the car for the length of the plan. Generally these plans are nothing but cash cows for Ford as they rarely get actually used.

[MERCMAN]

I purchaced the 7 yr 70k plan,, cost me about 1900 extra i believe.
BE sure to have them throw in the disappearing dedutable. They won't tell you about that. The gist of it is that if you bring it back to the dealer you purchased it from,, VOILA,, you pay no deductable for any covered work.

As far as need. I have one on my lincoln, engine went out at 50K, NO CHARGE, go for the best one you can afford. If you are planning on keeping your MM stock, it is a great safety net. However, be advised that if you plan on any mods(ie: chips, SC, 4:10's etc,) the dealer may have an issue if anything breaks. I opted for premiumcare plan. Good luck!!

[merc]

I concur with my bother mercman. I will be purchasing an extended warranty in the next week.

[drobin]

If you have the dough, something like $1630.00 go for it. That's what I paid for my Ford ESP Premium 72 month- 100000 mile plan. Deductable is $50.00 and believe me every vehicle I've ever owned had some type of plan which I always got my money back. Hope my MM 300A is no exception... Goodluck making up your mind.

Donald

[MI2QWK4U]

Also consider any modifications you plan on making. With a supercharger going in next week...an ESP would be a waste of money. I may salvage some of my drivetrain warranty due to a sympathetic service manager and heavy engine Tech at my dealership, but I pretty much said to hell with the warranty when I went with the blower....

[03SILVERSTREAK]

It may be a cash cow , but it sure comes in handy when your transmission gives up at 50K . the dealer has the misses car and
other than a 100.00 deductible they will pick up the tab for a
new transmission .

[cruzer]

I'm on my 4th 100,000 mi/6yr Ford Premium ESP and they have all paid off in spades--of course, I drove the '92- 189,000, the'95 -110,000, '99- 80,000. I figure I'm about $6,000 ahead at this point--I won't even consider an outside agency---have the manufacturer warranty their own product--that's my experience

[MERCMAN]

FYI most dealers will not honor an "outside" warranty, you have to pay for repairs and then YOU deal with getting your money out of the provider.

[JamesHecker]

I purchase an ESP on every car I buy. They have been greatly appreciated when they were needed. The only car I ever had that I never had a problem with while it was under the extended warranty is my '97 Cougar.

It's like any insurance. If you need it, the cost was cheap!

[Clarkitus]

Thanks for the advice! I'm hoping to keep my MM for several years so I think that I'll get one. I'll let you know if I find anything good!

[MERCMAN]

remember to ask about the disappearing deductable!! LOL it is a good deal if you keep the car for years!!

[Ross]

Bought an ESP for a Cadillac Fleetwood from the dealer. Radiator went out, and before the %$^&# idiot light came on my engine was destroyed. Saved myself about $4,000. on a new engine. I would also go with a plan from the dealer where you plan to have your car serviced. They are probably more familiar with the plan and the people they will have to work with to get work done.

[sailsmen]

Buy the Premium plans. They only cost a little extra and cover radio and window and seat motors, ect.

Even with an SC it is worth it for those types of items.

Always buy it from the MFG of the
Car.

I work in the insurance business and have seen many an "A" rated warranty insurance company go bust!

Obviously only get an ESP plan if you plan on keeping the vehicle for the life of the coverage. An ESP plan also enhances resale, no one would even look at my '99 SHO unless I had an ESP!

[engine23ccvfd]

And remember the plans are negotiable(sp) got mine cut by a good percent...I really like the 5000.00 dollar payment if my car is stolen and unrecovered for 30days or if it is totaled in a wreck...can be used for downpayment on new car if your insurance covers remaining balance on car instead of resell value.

[Macon Marauder]

I was never a fan of these things until lately. Cars are just too darn expensive to fix these days.

So now, when I buy a car, I make the ESP part of the deal. Dealers have so much mark up on these plans that bargaining can really pay off.

When my dealer tried to sell me the 5/60 ESP it was over $1000. When they added it to their side of the deal it was at their cost: $530.

[Wags]

I went with the same company that I had my Impala one with. I paid $1200 for that one, and had over $6000 in repairs done over the life of the coverage. (whole rear end, heads, water pump, seat frame, ect.) No problems ever with claims. The dealer got paid directly from the warranty company. I could go to anyplace that I wanted for the reapirs. Also, they never questioned any mods that done to the car. I hope that it's the same way with this one. I got the 7yr/100k, $0 deductable, everything covered plan. I paid $1400 for it.

Wags

[studio460]

Originally posted by mercman
. . . The gist of it is that if you bring it back to the dealer you purchased it from, VOILA, you pay no deductable for any covered work.

Question: You can buy an extended warranty from ANY Ford or LM dealer, right (maybe just LM?)? Not just the dealer of original purchase? I would prefer to buy an ESP plan from an LM dealer closer to my home (a new one just opened a few miles from me), although I actually prefer the service I've received from my local Ford dealer. Even though I'm probably going to drop a supercharger in my car this fall, I've been seriously considering the 72-month/100,000 mile plan (I've had enough "little" warranty repairs to nearly convince me now). Is $1,630 the rock bottom price for that 72-month/100,000 mile plan? Sure sounds like it. If it is, I'll just go from dealer to dealer until someone replies "sold" at that price.

[bnvus]

Try these. They have great prices to compare with

Ford warranty (http://www.fordwarrantys.com)

Another (http://www.fordwarrantycentral.com/)

Print out the price of the warranty package you want and show the dealer what you got online for the same warranty he is offering. When I bought my 03 EB Expedition, I had 2 quotes w/the same coverage (5Y/100,000 Premium Care Package) for 1,200.00 that I showed him from the websites. He quickly matched the price on the website. You can't go wrong with the extended FACTORY warranty instead of the one the dealer trys to push you into.

Lastly, they will offer you GAP insurance. Get a quote from your insurance company first, then go in and see if the dealer can offer you a better deal. Since the mark up and 0% is seriously devaluing vehicles today I would STRONGLY recommend it.

Good Luck

[Clarkitus]

Can you purchase an ESP directly from Ford/Mercury? Are most companies that offer ESPs dealers, or other companies?

The way they flash the Ford and Mercury logos it makes you think that they are a division of the company or something.

[studio460]

Thanks, bnvus!!! Those links certainly help! Those prices are far less than I've heard other people paying for Ford factory ESPs. FAR LESS! But why get a dealer to match the Ford ESP pricing? Why not just buy it online? Is there any benefit from making the deal at a physical dealership?

[jgc61sr2002]

bnvus - Thanks so much for the link. I also thought the plans were priced higher.

[sailsmen]

I have posted this before in this thread and I cannot emphasize it enough.

I work in the insurance industry for 23 years and I have never had a client have a claim go unpaid due to the insurer going bust!

Only buy the ESP from the MFG period!

I cannot tell you the number of "A" rated underwriters that have gone bust, every major insurer that has ever gone bust was "A" rated!

[duhtroll]

I'm bumping this because the prices are really good right now. For those of you with less than 12K and 12 months on the car, the premium plan is right around $1000 for 5 years/100K. The years appear to be what's expensive, so a 7 year plan would be more. IOW if you drive a lot it won't be as expensive.

There is a promo code they will send to you in an email that gave me $135 off the price listed on the website at fordwarrantys.com

You have your choice of deductible plans - I'm going for the $100 I think, but the variety is nice to have. The price quotes I got were good until 9/30/2003.

I think I will take that price to my local dealer and ask them to match it if they can. As long as you do it before 12K or 12M, it's cheaper - slightly more expensive up to 36K/36M.

Thanks,
-A

[troopcar]

Followup to duhtrolls post:

When I was looking at Ford ESP prices, it seemed that fordwarrantys.com were the least expensive. They had a $150 off promo that was good until 8/31/03. I guess now it's $135. When I called them in August to ask some questions, I asked if the promo would be even better in Sept. He said no, that $150 off was the best he had seen. (was probably being truthful)

My local dealer would not match their price. And here's the best part . . . if I had purchased from local dealer, would have had to pay big bucks sales tax. But for some states, if you buy from a dealer out of state (internet or in person) you pay no sales tax!

Don't know about y'all, but anytime I can avoid the dreaded sales tax, that's a plus. Our pay is already taxed to death . . . :shake:

[MAD-3R]

Actually your supose to pay the sales tax for your HOME state when you buy mail-order or internet. THere is a form you would need to fill out, and cut them a check.

Random bit of knowledge I picked up somewhere

[martyo]

Remember, the mods may create problems with the ESP's just as they would with the manufacturer's original warranty.

Free legal advice. It's worth every penny you paid for it!

[DetGeno]

Check out this tread! :up:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4253&highlight=warranty

[troopcar]

MAD-3R-
Never heard of such a form for NY. But if you should happen to come across one, please DO NOT send it to me! lol

DetGeno-
I had left a voice mail for Joe Vassallo asking for a price quote, but never got a call back. Either his voice mail wasn't working properly or he didn't need the business.

troopcar

[Clarkitus]

I'm having the same problem with salesmen - I can't get any to return my calls.

Does Ford have a direct line / website where you can purchase an ESP without going through a dealer? I'm getting real close to my purchase anniversary.

[DetGeno]

I've talked to Joe today and straighten him out, give him one more chance before we zhit-can him! :mad:

[troopcar]

Clarkitus-
Do a google search under "ford esp" or "ford esp warranty." One site that will show up is fordwarrantys.com which apparently is run by a dealer in CT. I found their prices to be the least expensive for the particular plan I wanted, especially with the dollars-off promo.

A Ford ESP "corporate" site will probably also show up and you can get their pricing. Bottom line is you should get price quotes from various sites selling Ford ESP's and also from dealers in your area. Decide which plan you want (PremiumCare, ExtraCare, etc.) and for how many years/miles before you start collecting your quotes. Then you can easily compare apples to apples. You can do the whole process with just your computer and credit card (and your phone if you want to call the internet ESP dealers to ask questions or to try a few local dealers).

troopcar

[RoyLPita]

If anybody decides which Ford plan to purchase, go for Premiumcare. I got mine on my '95 Mustang and I was able to transfer it for only $40. Premiumcare covers 500+ components and cover things like "check engine" lights and sound system parts. It is worth it regardless of price. Another thing, is you have over 12k or it is been over 1 year since the original service date, then it will cost $100 more. Disappearing deductible is also extra. Higher deductible will take $$ off. If you do the big deductible, make the Grocery list.

Just my .02

[Clarkitus]

Thanks, troopcar! Found lots of sites!

I know that I really should have asked this when I purchased the vehicle, but what does the 3yr/36,000 mile warranty cover that came with the car?

[troopcar]

Clarkitus-
I also wanted to know exactly what was covered (or not) on the 3 yr./36K warranty so I could see if any of the ESP's covered anything additional during the first three years. Had not received anything in writing when I purchased the MM. So I called Merc Customer Service. They said I should have gotten something from the dealer. After a bit of arm-twisting, finally got them to agree to mail me the New Car Warranty info. Still waiting, but if I don't get it soon, I will call them again.

troopcar

[tetsu]

I put premiumcare on mine. I keep my cars for a while, and I've paid the price for opting out of ESP on my Chebby. :(

I'll buy a new vehicle at 100k when my warranty is up. (Keeping
the MM of course!)

Johnny

[Ron]

Recently rec'd in the mail info from Ford on the ESP.
Called the 800#, the brochure states that their staff will help you select the plan that is right for your needs.

My VIN# was on the brochure, they had me down as a GM.

Told them my MM is weekend pleasure use vehicle, approx. 650 miles to date.
I opted for 7 yr/36k mi., He informed me that I can up the mileage as long as it is w/in the manufacturers warranty period (3yr/36K).
Took the Premium Care @ Approx. $900.00 (don't have paper in front of me). 10% down, then bill me for 18 months @ 0%.
I'm covered till 2010.

[MMM2003]

Just signed up with fordwarranty.com for a 5 yr/100000miles Base Care. Got the whole deal for $775 including the addt'l fee for being over 12k miles or 1 year from purchase date.
Today is the last day to get the rebate (promotion code 45689).
Gets you $150 off. Great website to compare the different options and plans.

I'm commited for the long term and just don't want to take any chances with my luck and the tranny things that start to come up here more frequently.